Backrooms Film: Rumor about director Kane Parsons – A star vehemently denies it

Even before its theatrical release, "Backrooms" is already making waves. This is due in no small part to the fact that Kane Parsons, a filmmaker who is just 20 years old, is at the helm – making him the youngest director at the acclaimed film studio A24. Given his young age, there are claims circulating online that Parsons did not actually direct the film. One of the film's stars has now responded: Actor Mark Duplass flatly denied the rumors. In an Instagram video, he stated:

"So a lot of takes going on right now about whether Kane Parsons, at the tender age of 19, actually directed 'Backrooms'. Or whether it was more ghost directed by one of his more experienced producers. Um, I was there. I suspect one of the reasons I was hired is because I mentor a lot of young filmmakers. And they may have thought it would be good to have someone there who's sensitive to that. And I was prepared to help out, and what happened was, he didn't need any of us. He was intensely prepared."

Duplass responded just as unequivocally on social media to a user's accusation that Parsons hadn't directed "Backrooms" at all:

"Hmmm, with all due respect I don't remember seeing you on set. When I was there, Kane was 100% in control. More so than many directors 3x his age."

Experienced producers on board

Mark Duplass is part of the "Backrooms" ensemble alongside lead actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve. He has appeared in many other films and also has experience as a screenwriter and director. In addition, experienced filmmakers such as James Wan, Shawn Levy, and Osgood Perkins are involved as producers, leading some social media users to question whether Kane Parsons is actually the film's director, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Parsons himself commented on Osgood Perkins' role a while back. He told DiscussingFilm:

"When we started production up in Vancouver, I was working very closely, like literally in the same office with Osgood Perkins. So, he's been a really great, I would say, mentor figure in a number of ways."

"A very long video"

"Backrooms" is based on Kane Parsons' own YouTube web series of the same name. The popular project debuted in 2022 and was celebrated not only by audiences but also by critics. In light of the current film adaptation of the material, Parsons told Deadline:

"I'm just doing, in my mind, the same thing I've been doing on YouTube, but somehow this snowballed in such a way that I have been given the ability to be a part of and work with such a large group of people on what is essentially just a very long video."

Kane Parsons could set a record with Backrooms

For the "Backrooms" film, which Parsons directed and Will Soodik wrote, the young director reportedly had a budget of about $10 million at his disposal. The mysterious film centers on a small-town furniture dealer who discovers a portal to another dimension in his showroom. "Backrooms" hits theaters on May 29, 2026.

It's already becoming clear that the film could be a hit. As several media outlets report, "Backrooms" is currently projected to gross between $40 million and $50 million on its U.S. opening weekend. Given the relatively small budget, that would be a strong start. What's more, "Backrooms" could land at number 1 on the U.S. box office charts on its opening weekend. This would allow Parsons to set a record: at 20 years old, he would be the youngest filmmaker to achieve this feat.

To get you in the mood for the story, the trailer for "Backrooms" offers a first look at the film: